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(ModeL) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

C. HAAS 8t J. E. STOETZEL.

- HEARSE BARROW. I

No. 247,730. H Patented Sept. 27,1881.

WITNESSES INVENTORS at I 82 W ATTORNEY N ERS Phm-ume m m, WashingiomDC I(ModeL) 2 Sheets-Q-Sheet 2.

0. I-IAAS & J. E STOETZEL.

HEARSE BAgROW. I

' No. 247,730. Patented-Sept. Z7,1881.-

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W'INESSES INVENTORS @Wm M ATTORNEY UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHRISTIAN HAAS AND JOHN E. STOEIZEL, OF PERU, ILLINOIS; SAID HAASASSIGNORTO SAID STOE'IZEL.

HEARSE-BARROW.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 247,730, datedSeptember 27, 1881. Application filed March 16, 1881. (Model.)

To, all whom it may concern Be it known that we, CHRISTIAN HAAs and JOHNE. SToETzEL, of Peru, in the county of La Salle and State of Illinois,have invented certain ne wand useful Improvements inHearse- Barrows; andwe do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in theart to which it pertains to make and use it, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, which form part of this specification.-

Our invention relates to an improvementin hearse-barrows, the objectbeing to provide a hearse barrow of such construction that differentsizes of coffins or caskets may be readily clamped thereto and securelyretained against of the hearse-barrow, and Fig. 5 is a moditi cation. Arepresents the side bars, B the end bars, and O the middleeross-pieces,constituting the frame of our improvedhearse barrow. This frame work ispreferably made of light hard lumber, though it may he made of lightmetal, if desired. The opposite ends of the side bars are furnished withhandles a, to allow the device to be readily moved from place to place.To the opposite ends of the barrow-frame are pivoted the supporting-legsD D, by means of rods b,inserted through the upper ends of the -legs andthrough the side bars,A, the legs being constructed to fold upwardlybetween said side bars when desired. Side bars A are each provided witha groove, E,extending throughout its length, within which grooves areinserted the opposite ends of the adjustable cross-pieces F F, thelatter being free to slide toward or from the ends of the barrow-frame.

- Gross-pieces F F are secured in any desired longitudinal adjustment bymeans of pins 0, extending downwardly through the ends of thecross-pieces and into holes d, formed in the sidebars, A.

While we have shown one method of securing the cross-pieces againstdisplacement, we

do not restrict ourselves to the particular means shown and described,as it is evident that other devices might be employed for the samepurpose, as, forinstance, springcatches or bolts might be attached tothe cross-pieces and arranged to engage in holes formed in the sidebars.

To the upper surfaces of the cross-pieces F F are secured or formedintegral therewith the guides Gr G, within which are located theslidebarsH H ,the latter being laterally adjustable within the guides.Slide-bars H H are provided with a series of holes, 6, each hole beingformed on an incline, as illustrated in the drawin gs, and for a purposehereinafter explained.

I l are the clamping-hooks, which are constructed with elongatedsupports f, provided with downwardly-projecting pins 9, which latter arealso inclined and adapted to fit in the holes 0 in the slide-bars. Thusit will be observed that the hooks maybe secured to the slide-bars atany desired distance from each other, according to the width of theco'ffin or casket to be secured to the barrow, and by forming theattaching-pins and the holes on an incline, as shown, the hooks are notliable to become displaced when outward strain is transmitted to them.

Instead of providing for the independent manner described, they may beconstructed inthe manner illustrated in Fig. 5,;wherein the slide-bar isformed with an elongated central slot, h, through which is inserted abolt, '5, the latter passing up through the clamping-hook and providedat its upper end with a thumbnut. By loosening the thumb-nut the clamp-I ing-hook may be adjusted laterally to any required point on theslide-bar, andtl e thumbnut being tightened the clamping-hook issecurely retained against displacement. The upper ends of theclamping-hooksI I are each provided with a projection, 71, which fitsover the projection encircling the bottom of thecoffin or casket, andthus effectually preventing the coffin from tipping over and fallingoft'the barrow.

K is an adjusting-rod, the ends of which extend through openings formedin the end bars of the barrow-frame. To one end of the bar K is secureda spring, K, which may be either a coiled, elliptical, or spiral spring,the latter lateral adjustment of the clamping-hooks in the restingagainst the end bar and serving to draw the bar K outward. The bar Kpasses beneath the guides G G, and is provided with any desired numberof holes, I, located throughout its length.

To the adj ustin g-bar are attached the plates M M by means of pins m,inserted through the plates and holes in the bar, the plates beingsecured to the bar in such position as will accommodate the length ofcofiin to be secured to the barrow.

To the opposite ends of the plates M M are pivoted the links N,theopposite ends of which are pivoted to the adjacent ends of thebellerank levers O O, which latter are pivoted to the cross-pieces attheir central portions, and at their outerends are pivoted to theslide-bars.

One end of the adj usting-bar is screw-threaded and has applied theretoa thumb-nut, P. By turning the thumb-nutin one direction theadjusting-bar is moved toward one end of the barrow-frame, and byturning the nut in the opposite direction the spring attached to theother end of the adjusting-bar serves to draw the latter toward theopposite end of the barrow-frame.

Having described the construction and arrangement of parts of ourimproved barrow hearse we will now briefly describe its operation.

If it is necessary to secure a large coffin to the barrow thecross-pieces are moved away from each other and secured in place nearthe endsof the barrow-frame. Theclamping-hooks are also secured to theouter ends of the slidebars. The ooflin orcasket is then placed upon theguides and between the clamping-hooks. The thumb-nut at one end of theadjusting-bar being turned the latter will be drawn in one direction,and through the medium ofthe links, bell-crank levers, and adjustableslides operate to force the clamping-hooks in snug contact with thelower edges of the coifln or casket, thus firmly securing itin placewithout necessitating the employmentof straps or other devices over oraround the casket. By simply loosening the thumb-nut the spring servesto draw the adjusting-bar in the opposite direction, thereby looseningthe clamping-hooks and allowing the coffin or casket to be readilyremoved from the barrow.

When a small-sized cotfin or casket is to be secured to the barrow thecross-pieces and guides are moved nearer the center of the barrow-frame,and also the clamping-hooks are placed nearer each other; but theoperation is the same as hereinbefore described.

Instead of perforating the'adjusting-bar and securing the plates theretoby means of removable pins, we may use a clamp and thumbnut for suchpurpose.

We would have it understood that we do not restrict ourselves to theparticular construction and combinations of parts shown and described,as many slight changes might be resorted to syithout involving adeparture from the spirit of 11y invention.

Having fully described our invention, what .set forth.

3. The combination, with a hearse-barrow frame, of adjustablecross-pieces and devices for retaining them in any desired longitudinaladjustment, substantially as set forth.

4. In a hearse-barrow, the combination, with a frame having grooved andperforated side bars, of adjustable erosspieces and removable pins forsecuring the latter in any desired ad justment, substantially as setforth.

5. In a hearse-barrow,the combination, with adjustable cross-piecesprovided with guides, of adjustable slide-bars located in said guides,substantially as set forth.

6. In a hearse-barrow, the combination,with adjustable slide-bars, ofclamping-hooks adjustably secured thereto, substantially as set forth.

7. In a hearse-barrow, the combination, with adjustable slide-bars, ofclamping-hooks provided with pins adapted to enter perforations in saidslide-bars, substantially as set forth.

8. In a l1earse-barrow,the combination,with adjustable slide-barsprovided with inclined holes, ofclamping-hooks provided with inclinedpins, substantially as set forth.

9. In a hearse-barrow, the combination, with laterally-adjustableslide-bars and clamping hooks connected therewith, of an adj ustin g-barand devices for imparting simultaneous movement to all of the slidingbars and clampinghooks, substantially as set forth.

10. In a hearse-barrow, the combination, with adjustable cross-piecesand adjustable slide-bars and clamping-hooks, of an adjusting-bar anddevices for imparting movement to all the clamping-hooks simultaneously,substantially as set forth.

11. In a hearsebarrow, the combination, with adjustable slide-bars, ofan adjustable bar, plates, links, and bell-crank levers for impartin gsimultaneous lateral movement to said slidebars, substantially as setforth.

12. In a hearse-barrow, the combination, with adjustable slide-bars andclam pin g-hooks, of an adjusting-bar having a spring connected with oneend thereof and an adj u sting-nut with its opposite end, substantiallyas and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony that we claim the foregoing we have hereunto set our handsthis 25th day of February, 1881.

CHRISTIAN HAAS.

Witnesses: JOHN E. STOETZEL.

Gno. PERRY,

JOHN BIRGHENOUGH- IIO IIS

